Pipe plug seal



Oct. 31, 1933. J, J KOLOMYJEC 1,932,700

' PIPE PLUG sAL Filed July 8. 1931 Patented @et 3l, 19533 PIPE PLUG `SEAL Y John J. Kolornyjec, Kansas City, Mo.

Application July 8, 1931. Serial No. 549,536

8 Claims.

rhis invention relates to a seal particularly adapted for use in connection with the plugs of pipe couplings in supply and service lines leading to and from gas meters and the like.

L'n the customary installation of gas meters and the like, the supply and service lines respectively leading 'to 'and from a meter are each provided with a coupling having a removable plug. Oftentimes an unscrupulous user will remove these plugs and connect the supply line directly with the service line in order to obtain the use of the gas or the like without passing the same through the meter.

The primary object of this invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, means for preventing the removal of the plugs without such removal instantly becoming known by anyone inspecting the plugs, such means being in the form of a readily breakable cup for enclosing the exposed portion of a plug and being secured thereto in such a manner that the same cannot be removed without breaking it.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists ci the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as'hereina-iter more particularly described, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to ce understood that the description and drawing are to be considered as illustrative rather than limitative.

In the accompanying drawing wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughou the s`d eral views:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a gas meter showing my invention inassociation with the supply and service lines leading to and from the meter.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation showing the application of my invention to the service line.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of the plug to w1 ich the cup shown in Figure 4 is applied.

Figure 4 is an enlarged plan of the cup.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the plug and cup disassembled.

Figure 6 is a section through the cup taken at a right angle to Figure 5.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral y1 indicates a gas meter having a supply line 2 leading thereto and a service line 3 leading therefrom. The lines 2 and 3 are equipped with couplings a and 5 res ectively, each of which is normally provided with a plug such as 6 threaded thereint-o, the plugs having a polygonal shaped portion projecting from the couplings in order that a wrench may be applied to the plugs for removing the same.

' In carrying out the present invention, the projecting portion 7 of the plug is formed in oppof" site faces thereof with transversely extending grooves 8 which are utilized for securing to the plug a cup 9 formed of porcelain, glass, plaster of Paris or other readily breakable material incapable of withstanding the pressure of a wrench applied thereto. f Y

The cup 9 preferably is formed with an outwardly tapered, smooth peripheral face 10 and is conca-ved on its inner face as indicated at 11. Formed in the inner face of the cup is a socket 12 of appropriate size" and shape to snugly receive the projecting portion 7 ofthe plug 6 therein. Formed in opposite side walls of the socket 12 are vertically disposed grooves 13 which-cornmunicate at their lower ends with horizontally f disposed grooves 14 formed in the bottom wall of the socket 12 and having their inner ends terminating in spaced relation to each other. Firm- 1y embedded in the bottom wall 15 of the socket 12 is a resilient clip 16 of elongated construction which projects into the groves 14 andl has end portions 17 ythereof bent upwardly Within the grooves 13, the portions 17 terminating at their free ends in substantially right angularly disposed hooks 18.

In applying the cup to the plug, the cup is forced overthe projecting portion 7 of the plug which causes a spreading of the portions 17 of the clip 16 until the hooks 18 are brought into registry with the grooves 8, after which the portions 17 spring inwardly to engage the hooks with the grooves. The clip 16 is of suicient tension to prevent removal of the cup from the plug without breaking the cup. When the cup is thus positioned with respect to the plug, the projecting portion '7 of the plug is entirely enclosed by the cup in order to prevent the application of a wrench or the like to the portion '7 to remove the plug. If the wrench is applied to the cup, the latter will be broken by such application whereby anyone inspecting the plug will know at once that someone has attempted to remove the. plug.

It is thought-that the many advantages of a seal in accordance with this invention will be readily apparent, and although the preferred embodiment of the seal is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, so long as such changes fall Within the scope of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

What I claim is:-

1. In combination, a pipe plug having a wrench engaging portion provided in its peripheral face with oppositely disposed grooves, a cup having a socket enclosing said Wrench engaging portion, the side wall of said socket having oppositely disposed, vertical grooves, the bottom Wall of said socket having aligned horizontal grooves in communication with said vertical grooves, and a resilient clip anchored intermediate its ends within said socket, said clip extend-A ing into said horizontal grooves and having angularly disposed end portions Within the vertical grooves and terminating in inturned hooks extending into the grooves in the Wrench engaging portion of the plug.

2. In a pipe plug seal, a cup having a socket for enclosing a portion oi a plug, the side Wall of said socket having oppositely disposed, vertical grooves, the bottom wall of said socket having aligned, horizontal grooves, and a resilient clip anchored intermediate its ends within the cup and extending into said horizontal grooves, said clip having angularly disposed end portions disposed within the vertical grooves for engagement with the plug.

3. In a pipe plug-seal, a frangible non-metallic cup shaped body having its inner face formed with opposed grooves having open upper and closed lower ends, and a resilient element mounted within and extended from said grooves for securing said body to the plug in a manner to prevent removal of the body without shattering the latter, said element having one end anchored to the body between the closed ends of the grooves.

4. In a pipe plug seal, a frangible non-metallic cup shaped body having its inner face formed with opposed grooves having open upper and closed lower ends, a resilient element mounted within and extended from said grooves for se-A curing said body to the plugin a manner to prevent removal of the body without shatteringthe latter, said element having one end anchored to the body between the closed ends of the grooves,

and said body being of U-forrn having inwardly extending parts at the free ends of the sides thereof.

5. In a pipe plug seal, a frangible non-metallic cup-shaped body for encompassing the plug, a resilient connecting element arranged Within said body for engagement with the plug to secure the body to the latter in a manner to prevent the removal of said body without shattering it, and said body having an internal portion thereof, by which said element is anchored with the plug.

6. In a pipe plug seal, a frangible non-metallic cup-shaped body for encompassing the plug, a resilient connecting element arranged Within said body for engagement with the plug to secure the body to the latter in a manner to prevent the removal of said body without shattering it, said body having an internal portion thereof overlapping the base of said element for anchoring the latter to Vthe plug, Vsaid element being of U-shape contour, and said portion being disposed centrally of said body and overlapping the central portion of the base of said element.

7. In a pipe plug seal, a frangible non-metallic cup-shaped body, and a resilient connecting element, said body for encompassing the plug, said element arranged within and positioned inwardly of the open end of said body and adapted to engage witli the plug to secure the body to the latter in a manner to prevent the removal of said body Without shattering it, and said body having an internal portion for encompassing and anchoring said element thereto.

8. L1 a pipe plug seal, a irangible non-metallic cup-shaped body, and a resilient connecting element, said body for encompassing the plug, said element arranged within and positioned inwardly of the open end of said body and adapted to engage With the plug to secure the body to the latter in a manner to prevent the removal of said body without'shattering it, said body having an internal portion for encompassing and anchoring said element thereto, said element being of yoke-shape contour, and said internal portion being disposed intermediate the ends of the base of the yoke.

.JOHN J. KOLOMYJEC. 

